Part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Climate Change Initiative (CCI) project and the Climate Research Data Package Number 3 (CRDP#3), the XCH4 GOS Full Physics product comprises a level 2, column-averaged dry-air mole fraction (mixing ratio) for methane (CH4). The product has been produced using data acquired from the Thermal and Near Infrared Sensor for Carbon Observations (TANSO-FTS) NIR and SWIR spectra, onboard the Japanese Greenhouse gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT).

This version of the full physics product (version 1.0) has been generated using the OCFP University of Leicester Full-Physics Methane Retrieval Algorithm, based on the original Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) Full Physics Retrieval Algorithm and modified for use on GOSAT spectra baseline algorithm. This algorithm has been designated as an 'alternative' algorithm for the GHG CCI full physics methane retrievals. A second product has also been generated from the TANSO-FTS data by applying the baseline GHG CCI full physics algorithm, the RemoTeC SRFP algorithm. It is advised that users who aren't sure whether to use the baseline or alternative product use the baseline product generated with the SRFP baseline algorithm. For more information regarding the differences between baseline and alternative algorithms please see the GHG-CCI data products webpage.

The product is stored in NetCDF format with all GOSAT soundings on a single day stored in one file. For further details on the product, including the UoL-FP algorithm and the TANSO-FTS instrument, please see the associated product user guide (PUG) or the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents in the documentation section.

The GHG-CCI team encourage all users of their products to register with them to receive information on any updates or issues regarding the data products and to receive notification of new product releases. To register, please use the following link: http://www.iup.uni-bremen.de/sciamachy/NIR_NADIR_WFM_DOAS/CRDP_REG/